Counters

ABSTRACT

A counter comprises a body housing a set of discs which are freely rotatable on a sleeve and which have numerals on their peripheries. A series of drive plates are keyed to the sleeve and interleaved with the discs. At one end of the set of discs a spring-loaded collar also keyed to the sleeve urges the drive plates and discs into frictional engagement. The sleeve is rotatable with a reset wheel whilst the collar is driven by a star counting wheel through an orbital drive arrangement. Each disc has a set of first abutments and a second abutment on its periphery. Spring blades engage the peripheries of the discs to engage the first abutments so as to oppose movement of the discs in a counting direction but to permit movement thereof in a reset direction. The spring blades associated with all the discs but one end disc are each provided with a resilient detent which is positioned in the path of movement of the second abutment on a disc adjacent that engaged by the associated first abutment.

United States Patent 1191' Filed:

Walsall, England Assignee: The Lucas Electrical Company Limited, Birmingham, England June 20, 1973 Appl. No.: 371,694

Foreign Application Priority Data June 24, 1972 Great Britain 29720/72 v US. Cl. 235/117 R, 235/1 C, 235/133 R,

235/144 SP, 235/144 DM 1111.01 G06c 15/26, G06C 15/42 Field of Search 235/117 R, 133 R, l C, 235/103, 144 SP, 144 DM, 144 R References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Walters 5] July 16, 1974 COUNTERS I [75] Inventor: John Benjamin Leslie Walters, Pnmary ExammeF'Stepmn Tomsky Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Holman & Stern ABSTRACT A counter comprises a body housing a set of discs which are freely rotatable on'a sleeve and which have numerals on their peripheries. A series of drive plates are keyed to the sleeve and interleaved with the discs. At one end of the set of discs a spring-loaded collar also keyed to the sleeve urges the drive plates and discs into frictional engagement. The sleeve is rotatable with a reset wheel whilst the collar is driven by a star counting wheel through an orbital drive arrangement. Each disc has a set of first abutments and a second abutment on its periphery. Spring blades engage the: peripheries of the discs to engage the first abut- ]ments so asto oppose movementof the discs in a counting direction but to permit movement thereof in a reset direction. The spring blades associated with all the discs but one end disc are each provided with a resilient detent which is positioned in the path of movement of the second abutment on a disc adjacent that engaged by the associated first abutment.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 'E/jufl.

COUNTERS This invention relates to counters and is more particularly, though not exclusively, concerned with counters of the type used on bicycles or stationary exercise machines simulating bicycles so as to indicate a notional distance travelled thereon.

According to the present invention, there is provided a counter comprising a body, a set of co-axially mounted discs each having a plurality of numerals around the periphery thereof, a window in the body for displaying a numeral on each disc, friction drive means for frictionally rotating the discs, a rotary counting member for operating the friction drive means in a counting direction, a re-set member for operating the friction drive means in re-set direction,'a plurality of first abutment means on each disc of the set for one of the discs at one end of the set, the first abutment means being located between adjacent numerals on each disc, resilient stop means adapted to engage said first abutment means to prevent rotation of each disc of the set, except for the said one of thediscs, in the counting direction but to allow rotation of said discs in the opposite or re-set direction, a second abutment means on each disc of the set, and resilient detent means adapted to engage said second abutment means during rotation of each disc in the opposite re-set direction, the resilient detent means for each disc, except for the disc at the opposite end of the set to said one of the discs, being arranged with the stop means of one adjacent disc so that, as one resilient detent means rides over its respective second abutment means, the stop means for the adjacent disc is moved out of engagement with one of the abutment means and thus permits the said adjacent disc to be indexed by the counting drive means until the stop means returns to engage the next abutment means in use.

Preferably, the first abutment means are formed on the periphery of each disc to extend partially thereacross.

The second abutment means may be formed as an extension of one of the first abutment means on each disc.

body, said spring blade overlying the resilient detent means of anadjacent disc so that riding movement of the detent means over its respective second abutment causes it to engage the spring blade and move the respective stop means out of engagement with one of the first abutment means.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a counter according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is an end view of one of the discs of the counter shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a side view of the disc shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an assembly of resilient stops for' use in the counter of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is an end View of the assembly of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an assembly of detents for use in the counter shown inFIG. 1, and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the assembly of FIG. 6.

The counter shown in the drawings is designed to be used on a stationary exercise machine simultating a bicycle to indicate a notional distance travelled by a user of the machine. The counter comprises a composite body 10 formed of a top shell portion 11 and a bottom shell portion 12. A shaft 13 passes through the body 10 and freely mounts a star wheel 14, forming a counting drive, at one end thereof. The other end of the shaft freely mounts a rotatable re-set wheel 15. The star wheel 14 and re-set wheel 15 are provided with integral sleeves 16 and 17, respectively, which extend into the body 10 and are mounted on the shaft 13 to be rotatable thereon. Mounted on the sleeve 17 are a set of four discs 18, 19, 20 and 21 which are rotatable relative to the sleeve 17 but which can be frictionally driven thereby through the intermediary of drive plates 22, 23 and 24 keyed into a plurality of keyways 25 (only one shown) in the sleeve 17 and interleaved with the discs l8, 19, 20 and 21. Adjacent the disc 21, there is mounted a first collar 26 which is also keyed into the keyway 25 and, on one of its faces, abuts the disc 21. The other face of the collar 26 is engaged with one end of a spring 27 whose other end is engaged with a second collar 28 mounted on the sleeve 16 and abutting the body 10. The spring 27 provides the necessary axial force to enable friction drive of discs 18 to 21. The collar 26 is provided with a ring of inwardly directed teeth 26a which lie on a pitch circle whose centre coincides with the axis of shaft 13. The sleeve 16 eccentrically mounts an annular member 50 for rotation relative thereto. The annular member 50 has two rings of outwardly directed teeth 51 and 52 engaging respectively with the teeth 26a on collar 26 and an inwardly directed ring of teeth 28a on collar 28. The rings of teeth 51 and 52 lie on respective larger and smaller pitch circles whose common axis is offset from the axis of shaft 13. Like teeth 260, the ring of teeth 28a lie on a pitch circle whose centre lies on the axis of shaft 13. On its face remote from spring 27, the collar 28 is provided with a ring of circumferentially spaced, integral chamfered projections 53 (only one shown). A projection 54 formed integrally with bottom shell portion 12 is disposed in the path of movement of projection 53, as will be described further hereinafter, when the collar 28 is in the position shown in FIG. 1. The discs 18, 19, 20 and 21 can be rotated in a counting direction by rotation of the star wheel 14 and can be rotated in an oppositeor re-set direction by rotation of the re-set wheel 15. Due to the frictional nature of the drive, it will be manifest that any one of the discs can be prevented from rotating, by holding it against rotation, without affecting the movement of the other discs.

Attached to the bottom shell portion 12 are a resilient stop assembly 29 and a resilient detent assembly 30. These assemblies 29 and 30 will be described hereinafter in greater detail.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the disc l8, 19, 20 and 21 are identical and comprise a peripheral rim 31 around which the numerals 0 to 9 are marked. Between each numberal there is provided a first abutment 32 which extends half way across the rim 31 and is formed integrally therewith. Also formed on the rim 31, as an extension of the first abutment 32 which is disposed between the numerals 4 and 5, is a second abutment 33. It is to be noted that the arrangement of the second abutment 33 is such that when it is disposed adjacent the resilient detent assembly 30 as will be described hereinafter, the numeral zero appears 3 in a window 34 in the top shell portion 11, the Window 34 beingcovered by a lens 35.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5,the resilient stop as sembly 29 shown therein comprises a flange 36 which is bolted to the bottom shell portion 12, a series of four spring blades 37, 38, 39, 40, and a series of three stops 41, 42 and 43 integrally connected with the free ends of spring blades 38, 39, 40, respectively. The arrangement is such that the stops 41, 42 and 43 are urged against the rims 31 of discs 18, 19 and respectively by the respective spring blades 38, 39 and 40. The stops 41, 42 and 43 engage that portion of the respective rim 3] which carries the first abutment 32. The spring blade 37 engages a portion of the rim 31 of the disc 18 which carries the second abutment 33.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the resilient detent assembly includes a flange 44 carrying a series of four spring blades 45, 46, 47 and 48. The flange 44 is mounted'on the bottom shell portion 12 in the same position as the flange 36 so that the spring blades 45, 46,.

47 and 48 are disposed, respectively, between spring blades 37, 38, 39 and 40 and the associated discs 18, 19, 20 and 21. The ends of the spring blades 45, 46, 47 and 48 rests against the-portions of the rims 31 on which are disposed the second abutments 33 and point in a direction opposite to that in which the stops 41, 42 and 43 point.

ln use, the counter is mounted on the exercise machine (not shown) and is arranged so that the star wheel 14 is driven by pedals of the machine in a manner similar to the way in which a milometer is driven by a wheel on a proper bicycle. Rotation of the star wheel 14 in the counting direction causes rotation of collar 26 through the intermediary of annular member 50 whose teeth 51 and 52 are respectively engaged with teeth 26a on collar 26 and teeth 28a on collar 28, the latter being 4 remains in the window 34. A similar operation occurs at the end of the next complete revolution of disc 21 so that the numeral 2on the disc 20 appears in the window 34. This action continues until the numeral 9 on disc 20 is just passing out of the window 34. In this position, the spring blade 47, lifted by the second abutment 33 on the disc 20, causes the spring blade 39 to flex. Flexure of the spring blade-39 causes the stop 42 to be removed from one of the first abutments 32 on disc 19 so that the latter is free to rotate until the numeral 1 thereon appears in the window 34. The stop 42 then moves back under the action of spring blade 39 to engage the next first abutment 32 on the disc 19 to ensure that the numeral 1 remains displayed in the window 34. The disc 18 is tripped in a similar manner to that described with reference to disc 19 after further rotation of the star wheel 14 in the counting direction. During this counting operation, the second collar 28 remains fixed against rotation by abutment of one of its projections 53 against abutment 54 on shell portion 12. Due to the fact that there are a different number of teeth 51 and 52 in the respective rings, rotational drive is imparted to the collar 26, the annular member 50 performing an orbital movement about the axis of shaft 13.

Rotation of collar 26 causes a frictional drive to be imparted to the disc 21 which rotates so as to bring numerals 1 to 9 serially into the window 34 to give an indication of the notional distance travelled. During such rotation of the disc 21, the portion of the rim 31 upon which the first abutments 32 are not provided, slides past the spring blade 48 and the discs 18, 19 and 20 are prevented. from rotating due to the first abutments 32 thereon engaging stops 41, 42 and 43 respectively. The discs l8, l9 and 20 thus remain in positions in which the numerals zero appear in the window 34. As the numeral 9 on the disc 21 passes-the window 34, the second abutment 33 on the disc 21 passes under the spring blade 48 which is lifted thereby so as to ride over the second abutment 33. Due to this lifting movement of the spring blade 48, the spring blade carrying the stop 43 is also lifted so that the spring blade 43 is no longer engaged with its first abutment 32 on the disc 20. The disc 20 is thus permitted to rotate butrotation stops when the spring blade 48 has ridden over the second abutment 33 on the disc 21 and has flexed back into its original position, and when the spring blade 40 has flexed back also to bring the stop 43 into a position in which it is engaged by the next first abutment 32 on the disc 20 so that the numeral 1 thereon appears and in the position shown in FIG. 1 in which it is keyed against rotation relative to body 10.

When it is desiredtoreset the counter, it is merely necessaryto rotate the rotatable reset wheel 15 in the opposite resetdirection. Rotation of the reset wheel 15 causes rotation of annular member 50 about the axis of the pitch circles of teeth 51 and 52 due to engagement of teeth 51 with teeth 26a on collar 26. Such rotation of the anular. member 50 is permitted because the chamfered projections 53 on the collar 28 abut the projection 54 on shell portion 12 and cause the collar 28 to move axially against the action of spring 27 so that the projections 53 can slide past projection 54 whereby rotation of collar 28 is permitted in the reset condition. During rotation of the wheel 15, the first abutments 32 on the discs 18, 19, 20 and 21 pass underthe spring blades 37 38, 39, 40 respectively, which, in this direction of rotation, do not prevent rotation of the disc but merely ride over the first abutment 32. However, in this direction of rotation, the spring blades 45, 46, 47 and 48 are directed so as to prevent rotation of the discs 18, 19, 20 and 21 when the second abutments 33 are engaged therewith. Thus, the discs 18, 19, 20 and 21 drawings that all of the four discs 18 to 21 are identical.

This facilitates production and assembly of such discs. Consequently, while all of the discs 18 to 21 are provided with first abutments 32, the first abutments 32 of disc 21 are never employed. Thus, disc 21, for purposes of operation of the counter, can be said to be provided without first abutments 32 and the second paragraph and claims of this Specification are to be construed accordingly.

It will be manifest from the above that the above described counter possesses a considerable advantage over previous counters in that, at the most, only a single revolution of the reset wheel 15 is required in order to zero the counter.

I claim:

l. A counter comprising a body, a set of co-axially disposed discs, a plurality of numerals around a periphery of each said disc a window in said body for displaying a numeral on each said disc, friction drive means for frictionally rotating said discs, a rotary counting member for operating said friction drive means in a counting direction, a reset member for operating said frictional drive means in a reset direction, a plurality of first abutment means on each said disc of said set except for one of said discs at one end of said set, said first abutment means being disposed between adjacent numerals on each said disc, resilient stop means adapted to engage said first abutment means to prevent rotation of each said disc of said set, except for the said one of said discs, in the counting direction but to allow rotation of said discs in the opposite or reset direction, a second abutment means on each said disc of said set, and resilient detent means adapted to engage said second abutment means during rotation of each said disc in the opposite reset direction, said resilient detent means for each said disc, except for the disc at the opposite end of said set to said one of said discs, being arranged with said stop means of an adjacent one of said discs so that, as one resilient detent means rides over its respective second abutment means, the stop means for said adjacent one of said discs is moved out of engagement with one of said abutment means and thus permits said adjacent one of said discs to be indexed by said counting drive means until said stop means returns to engage the next abutment means in use, wherein said first and second abutment means are mounted on the periphery of each said disc.

2. The counter according to claim 1, wherein said first abutment means extend partially across said periphery of each said disc.

3. The counter according to claim 1, wherein said second abutment means is formed as an extension of one of said first abutment means on each said disc.

4. The counter according to claim 1 wherein a spring blade serves to attach each said stop means to said body, said spring blade overlying said resilient detent means of an adjacent disc so that riding movement of said detent means over its respective second abutment causes it to engage said spring blade and move the respective stop means out of engagement with one of said first abutment means.

5. The counter according to claim '1, wherein said friction drive means includes a rotatable sleeve, a plurality of drive plates mounted for rotation with said sleeve and interleaved with said discs, and means resiliently biassing said discs and drive plates into friction engagement.

6. The counter according to claim 5, wherein said hiassing means comprises a collar mounted for rotation with said sleeve and abutting one of said discs at said one end of said set, and a spring disposed between said body and said collar.

7. The counter according to claim 6, wherein an orbital gear arrangement serves to interconnect said rotary counting member and said collar to enable drive to be imparted to said collar by said rotary counting member.

8. The counter according to claim 7, wherein said reset member is arranged to rotate said sleeve and said orbital gear arrangement is arranged to permit rotation of said collar in the reset direction. 

1. A counter comprising a body, a set of co-axially disposed discs, a plurality of numerals around a periphery of each said disc a window in said body for displaying a numeral on each said disc, friction drive means for frictionally rotating said discs, a rotary counting member for operating said friction drive means in a counting direction, a reset member for operating said frictional drive means in a reset direction, a plurality of first abutment means on each said disc of said set except for one of said discs at one end of said set, said first abutment means being disposed between adjacent numerals on each said disc, resilient stop means adapted to engage said first abutment means to prevent rotation of each said disc of said set, except for the said one of said discs, in the counting direction but to allow rotation of said discs in the opposite or reset direction, a second abutmEnt means on each said disc of said set, and resilient detent means adapted to engage said second abutment means during rotation of each said disc in the opposite reset direction, said resilient detent means for each said disc, except for the disc at the opposite end of said set to said one of said discs, being arranged with said stop means of an adjacent one of said discs so that, as one resilient detent means rides over its respective second abutment means, the stop means for said adjacent one of said discs is moved out of engagement with one of said abutment means and thus permits said adjacent one of said discs to be indexed by said counting drive means until said stop means returns to engage the next abutment means in use, wherein said first and second abutment means are mounted on the periphery of each said disc.
 2. The counter according to claim 1, wherein said first abutment means extend partially across said periphery of each said disc.
 3. The counter according to claim 1, wherein said second abutment means is formed as an extension of one of said first abutment means on each said disc.
 4. The counter according to claim 1 wherein a spring blade serves to attach each said stop means to said body, said spring blade overlying said resilient detent means of an adjacent disc so that riding movement of said detent means over its respective second abutment causes it to engage said spring blade and move the respective stop means out of engagement with one of said first abutment means.
 5. The counter according to claim 1, wherein said friction drive means includes a rotatable sleeve, a plurality of drive plates mounted for rotation with said sleeve and interleaved with said discs, and means resiliently biassing said discs and drive plates into friction engagement.
 6. The counter according to claim 5, wherein said biassing means comprises a collar mounted for rotation with said sleeve and abutting one of said discs at said one end of said set, and a spring disposed between said body and said collar.
 7. The counter according to claim 6, wherein an orbital gear arrangement serves to interconnect said rotary counting member and said collar to enable drive to be imparted to said collar by said rotary counting member.
 8. The counter according to claim 7, wherein said reset member is arranged to rotate said sleeve and said orbital gear arrangement is arranged to permit rotation of said collar in the reset direction. 